Local athlete Xavier Lemaître has dominated the national U20 men’s track and field scene after taking home a gold and silver medal at the 2022 Bell National Track and Field Championships.
Lemaître was involved in athletics from a young age, with both of his parents being active runners, and originally played elite soccer before transitioning to cross country and track and field only two years ago. Looking ahead, Lemaître hopes to bring down his time for a spot at the world championships in Columbia in August and to run at the university level.
“I’ve always done cross country on the side. I’m originally more of a soccer player myself. I started competitive sports around 10 and played soccer until I was 17. Running was always a part of staying in shape,” said Lemaître.
Having taken part in various races and with two active runners as parents, running has always been a part of Lemaître’s lifestyle.
“I’d run trail races in Sutton, anywhere around the area. Once a year, we had the cross country championships in Longueuil for Montérégie and that’s where I ran in the regional championships for the RRSQ. Whenever I qualified, I also ran at the provincial RRSQ championships that fall,” mentioned Lemaître.
As he headed into the national championships for track and field, Lemaître said he had no idea what to expect.
“It was my first ever national championships, but I had already been making a name for myself here in Quebec and I recently did my first national team for cross country,” he explained. “So, this year I was also hoping to get stuff done on the track as well. I was going out west to compete and run fast.”
Lemaître took part in the 3,000m steeple chase and the 500m-5km. He ended up taking home two medals.
“One gold in the 3,000 and then silver in the 5 km. I was very shocked myself,” noted Lemaître.
Lemaître is getting set to compete for a spot on the Quebec team to go to the Canada Games in August and is looking ahead to the world championships. He is also interested in competing at the university level.
“If I ever get the chance, I would also like to lower my personal best by a few seconds and hit that world standard time for the world championships in Columbia also in August,” said Lemaître.
Lemaître explained that there is a lot of instability when it comes to running due to injury, but that he has been lucky to continue to progress in the sport.
“Compared to other runners, I haven’t been in the sport this long competitively, but in running if you stay away from injury, then everything goes without having to take weeks, or sometimes even month off, and you keep training consistently, great things can happen. Even if you don’t think things will go well,” he said.
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